news LUVERNE -- According to Rock County Sheriff Evan Verbrugge, his department is just ready to move on now that the criminal case against one of their own has been resolved.
"It's good that we have an ending," Verbrugge said. "It's good to know we've come to some type of resolution."
That resolution has...
Worthington, 56187

Worthington Minnesota 300 11th Street / P.O. Box 639 56187

2013-07-11 16:15:14

LUVERNE -- According to Rock County Sheriff Evan Verbrugge, his department is just ready to move on now that the criminal case against one of their own has been resolved.

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"It's good that we have an ending," Verbrugge said. "It's good to know we've come to some type of resolution."

That resolution has been anticipated ever since information was discovered in December regarding allegations of sexual misconduct between Rock County Deputy Kyle Kreun and a teenage girl.

During a hunting trip together, a colleague discovered a topless photo of a 16-year-old girl on Kreun's phone.

The investigating officer learned Kreun had been dispatched to a complaint of underage alcohol consumption, and from there developed a relationship with one of the girls involved in the call.

According to the criminal complaint, the 28-year-old deputy obtained the girl's cell phone number during the call about the underage drinking, and started communicating with her often. Kreun took the girl on a ride-along with her parents' approval and employed her as a babysitter to watch his children.

During that ride-along, the girl said, Kreun put his hand on her leg many times and kissed her when he dropped her off. Eventually the two engaged in sexual contact.

A juvenile who was interviewed during the investigation said she and others, including the victim, had been to Kreun's house drinking.

Kreun was placed on administrative leave when the investigation began, but as of Thursday, was ordered to surrender his peace officer license.

Kreun was charged last week with child endangerment and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, both gross misdemeanor charges. He entered into a plea agreement and pleaded guilty to both charges Thursday. He was sentenced to serve 75 days in jail, a $2,000 fine and four years probation, according to court documents.

He will also be required to have a psychological sexual evaluation and is ordered to comply with all recommendations made by the assessor. Kreun is ordered to report to the Nobles County Jail no later than June 1 to serve his 75 days.

At the plea hearing, Judge Terry Vajgrt told Kreun he had broken the public's trust with conduct beyond the realm of decency.

"He'll do jail time, and that doesn't go unnoticed," Verbrugge said Monday. "He was a police officer, and now he has to go to jail for what he did. I believe he got a fair sentence."

While there has been support from the general public, Verbrugge said he feels bad for the rest of the staff, who are having the incident thrown in their faces.

The department is continuing to do their jobs effectively, he said, even if they are working with a tarnished image in the eyes of some.

"A majority of the people understand that it was one person, not the department. His decision was not the staff's decision," Verbrugge stated.

The people that are being difficult about the situation are those who the department "deals with in a frequent manner," he said.

The civil process dealing with Kreun's dismissal from the department is being handled separately from the criminal file.